APS student says he witnessed teacher misconduct

A Rio Grande High School teacher is on administrative leave while the district investigates whether allegations he hit on a student have weight – and if so, what they'll do about it.

On Monday, RGHS mother Angela Sepulveda reported to Albuquerque Public Schools that her daughter had been approached inappropriately by the teacher. On Tuesday, he was put on administrative leave.

A sophomore student reached out to KOB Eyewitness News 4 Wednesday saying he witnessed a similar situation.

"He passed by and slaps her again, then turns back and winks at her... after that, I was afraid to be in his class because from there I didn't know what would happen to me and to my friends," the student said.

The student says he, his female friends and his mother talked to a RGHS counselor and the principal, asking for action, but says nothing seemed to happen after that.

"I didn't want to be in that class, I didn't want to sit in that class, I was afraid of that class," the student said.

The district says human resources never got a report from the school about the alleged incident the student is talking about.

Sepulveda says she filed a report with APS police Monday. The district says they can't really talk about the case until the investigation is complete.